Despite the Toronto Maple Leafs not having a permanent general manager, there is still some trade discussion going on behind the scenes as they wrap up their season. And it could involve Matthew Knies.
Brandon Pridham and Ryan Hardy are serving as interim co-general managers as the Maple Leafs continue their search and interview process for the next leader that can hopefully turn this team around. While there has been word that they are going to try to convince Auston Matthews and William Nylander that staying in Toronto is the best path forward, they could move on from the 23-year-old Knies if they get some specific trade packages in return.
NHL insider reveals trade packages for Matthew Knies
According to Nick Kypreos, Knies continues to be a topic of trade talks well past the March 6 trade deadline. In the NHL insider's most recent article, Kypreos reveals that under former general manager Brad Treliving, the asking price was one of three packages.
1. Two first-round picks and a high-end prospect.
2. One first-round pick and two high-end prospects.
3. Three high-end prospects.
It's not certain that whoever gets hired as the new Maple Leafs general manager is going to be looking for the same, as this was all under Brad Treliving, but it would be a move that makes sense for Toronto to enter more of a strategic retool. But, prospects flame out and sometimes first-round draft picks don't even play professional hockey -- nothing is a certain thing like Matthew Knies is.
By moving Knies and the five years remaining on his contract at a fairly cheap price of a $7.75-million AAV cap hit, but getting multiple pieces in return -- that can benefit the entire team and maybe they would even get a player who could come close to the 23-year-old winger's impact.
In 73 games this season, Knies has scored 21 goals and a career-high 60 points. Essentially, he proved that he didn't just get his 58 points last year because he was riding shotgun to Auston Matthews for most of the year -- he can drive a whole lot of offense without his captain.
It would be a massive and risky decision to move Knies considering just how young he is, how he's entering his prime years, and how inexpensive his contract is compared to other wingers who regularly score around 25 goals and can be that physical power forward that almost every single playoff team is looking for.
This will be something to keep track of through the summer and if, when the new general manager comes in, his name is still all over the latest trade rumours.